Left untreated, PAD can lead to amputation

Check your feet and legs

As you get older, you might notice changes to the look and feel of your skin and think these changes are a normal part of the aging process. But these changes could be a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Talk to a health care professional to see if you are at risk. When the blood flow to your legs, feet and toes is restricted – as it is with PAD – the skin in these areas can’t get enough nutrients. You may notice your skin feels drier than normal, and is an unusual color. Parts of your skin could appear to be more red when you’re sitting or standing. Or, your skin might have an unhealthy paleness when your leg is elevated.

What are the changes?

Changes due to PAD can include thicker toenails and loss of hair on your leg, feet or toes. Changes like this could signal that you might have PAD or critical limb ischemia (CLI),20 the worst form of PAD. CLI is associated with significant risk for amputation and could put your life at risk.4

When blood flow to your legs, feet and toes is restricted, the skin in these areas can’t get enough nutrients.